Northern Ireland

More than £10,000 raised for Co Down family who lost mother and grandmother to Covid-19 within fortnight

Sammie-Jo Forde and her mother Heather Maddern both lost their lives to Covid
Sammie-Jo Forde and her mother Heather Maddern both lost their lives to Covid Sammie-Jo Forde and her mother Heather Maddern both lost their lives to Covid

More than £10,000 had last night been raised for a Co Down family who lost both their mother and grandmother to Covid-19 within two weeks.

The fundraising drive was launched following the death of mother-of-four, Sammie-Jo Forde, who lost her life to coronavirus on Saturday.

The 32-year-old, who lived in Holywood, was married to John and the couple had four children.

It was the second tragedy to touch for the family within a fortnight.

Sammie-Jo died 12 days after her own mother, named locally as Heather Maddern, who also lost her life to Covid-19 on August 31.

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The women, who lived together, also worked alongside each other as care assistants, visiting the homes of the elderly in the community.

Both contracted Covid-19 and were admitted to hospital.

However, both were unvaccinated.

A funeral service for Heather took place at Roselawn Crematorium on Monday while Sammie-Jo's funeral will take place next week.

Following the mother-of-four's death, an online fundraiser was set up her memory, to help her family in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Last night, the GoFundMe page had raised more than £10,000.

Debbie Strain, who organised the GoFundMe fundraiser, described her friend, Sammie-Jo as "an amazing mother a loving wife and she will never be forgotten.

"To not only lose their granny/mother in law but to lose their mother/wife is just unimaginable.

"If we could pull together and raise as much as we to help John and the kids through this financially that will be one worry from their heads so they can focus on themselves and try to get through this".

Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Sammie-Jo's father, Kevin McAllister said the death of his daughter had "shattered my world".

The "devastated" Drumaness man said that Sammie-Jo and her mother, his ex-partner Heather, had been just two bays from each other in hospital where they were being treated.

"I have lost my daughter, my best friend," he said.

"She is getting buried next Monday and I can't give her a kiss. I wouldn't wish it on nobody".

Mr McAllister said those choosing not to take the Covid-19 vaccine "don't realise what they are leaving behind".

"I can never get it out of my mind. Why didn't she take it? It will haunt me for the rest of my life," he said.

"I just wish people out there would listen to the experts. I am devastated.

"If she had took it she would be alive today, her and her mummy.

"Loads of people out there not taking it, they don't realise what they are leaving behind. We have to pick up the pieces. I have two sons as well and they haven't went to work, they have lost a sister.

"I don't want nobody to go through what that man has to go through, rearing four kids on his own.

"I have come back to work today to take my mind off it but next Monday I have to bury my first born, my best friend, my daughter and I wouldn't wish it on anybody.

"I just wish to God she took it. It is on my mind every night".

Mr McAllister added: "They were very, very close.

"They worked together, lived together. This has just shattered my world.

"Some people just think they can avoid Covid-19".